Porsche 917K/30 Project

[Dave Colangelo]

I know this is the 911 forum but i also know that this is where most of the Porsche brains on the web are so...

First off there is no such thing as far as i know, as a 917K/30.... ....yet

I recently was quite inspired by this guy...
Hand-Made Lamborghini Built In Basement Finally Sees Light Of Day

But any way to the point. I am no stranger to Porsche, in high school I drove a 924s that burnt oil and spewed smoke like none other it came to me not workign from a friend who didnt want it any more 3 long months under the hood and it was up and running. About a year ago that turned in to my current 78 911SC Targa, which had its fair share of issues when i bought it as well. Unfortunately I am am at college and dont have the space to have either cars here with me. Thus for 8 months out of the year I am very Porsche deprived.
When I first got the 924s I of course be came enamored with Porsche history, this led to the watching of the famous movie LeMans. Which as Im sure you have guessed led to the Porsche 917K.
So here is what I want to do. Build a Porsche 917, I want to use the K body style that won at LeMans in '70, paired with the engine out of the 917/30.
I am aware that this means I will actually have to build the engine my self. As a member of my universities formula team I have seen cars get built year after year. We have never built our own engine but I have a fair idea of what would need to be done to accomplish this. This is why I am posting this here, as this forum has helped me time and time again in the past. I know that the people I need to be in touch with are here.
I intend this project to take the better part of my life to accomplish, lets be honest, I'm 20, have no job yet, and no garage to even think about doing this in. I figured if I start planning now by the time I have the space and money to do this I will be ready to roll.

Here are the steps I plan on taking.
1. Research all I can on the cars, engines, and transmissions.
2. Go see a few in person and photograph extensively (I have never acutely seen one in person)
3. I know there are a few places that make replica chassis for the 917K, talk with them. Are the plan available, does Porsche license them, can I see the original plans?
4. Lay up the chassis in Solid Works or AutoCAD.
Engine time
5. Can I see the original blue prints some where?
6. Can I see an Original Engine some where?
7. Lay up Engine in Solid Works
8. I may opt to buy the body from some one but if I can, i will build it.
9. Construct and road legalize this monstrosity

I am a decent machinist, as well as a mediocre welder, but there is plenty of time to hone those skills in before I need them.

I know how ridiculous this all sounds but I though driving a Porsche to high school was ridiculous when I first got the 924s running, I sure never thought I would have a 911 before I was 50 either but strange things happen.
I intend on making this car road usable, so the interior will have some slight modifications to make it more comfortable but I want the rest of the car to remain as true to the original as it can. 1500 HP also sounds very nice to me.

I will post any progress I make, as well as any thing i intend on doing. Feel free to post pictures of 917's as suggestions. If you have any information on the car, or jsut want to share a story you have about a 917 feel free to do so. Any one willing to help feel free to say so as well. The first step will be the chassis design if any one has any information on dimensions etc. please share them if you can.

-The car will be painted in the classic Gulf Porsche blue and orange scheme

Regards
Dave

[tazzieman]

Nothing like being 20 with a dream! Anything's achievable if you put your mind to it and ignore the naysayers.
1500hp in a road legal car? I think there's a guy in England with a 2000hp sedan conversion...
Remember , you can have no more than 2 out of 3 of "fast , reliable and cheap"
Best of luck mate

[Carl_Boehme]

A trip to Stuttgart to visit the Porsche factory museum would be worth while. Either way have fun planning and dreaming.

[aadrew10]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

Anything's achievable if you put your mind to it and ignore the naysayers.

That's not always true. As he find more info about what he's planning on doing, he will start to realize exactly what he's trying to do.

[daepp]

Check out Wayne's photos of the 917 motors he recovered for polak. They are on pelican!

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by aadrew10

That's not always true. As he find more info about what he's planning on doing, he will start to realize exactly what he's trying to do.

There is no such thing as always or never, but the important thing is to have a red hot go and to thus achieve beyond your perceived potential.

Perhaps he'll end up with a 908?

Home - www.908werks.co.uk
It's a very healthy thing to have young guys interested in these older cars. Klaus Bischof bemoans the lack of interest at the P museum. I have heard he is setting up a historic motorsport subsection. He is hellbent on getting the Pink Pig racing again and needs to get the old mechanical team back together.

I think Dave should make every effort to get over there ASAP and talk to Klaus.

[IDGAF27]

They can be helpfull :
Welcome to WerkzCars "Manufacturer of the Porsche 906 and Kraftwerkz LMK 917 replica"

[Dave Colangelo]

A trip to stuttgart is in the near future to see the cars.

I took a look at the engines that Wayne recovered, man they are nice, if i happen to come across one, or one goes up for sale I would jump on it.

Regards
Dave

[jrolstin]

Very cool Dave,

I myself was on our schools formula team and headed the powertrain department for the last two years and aerodynamics for the last year. Wish you lots of luck with your new project

[tazzieman]

The chassis is doable ; Second coming

I think the engine will be the stumbling block. That is , a blueprinted racing 917 engine. The fallback until you win the lottery is a 3.6 .

[drcoastline]

Nice dream Dave and good luck.

A few months back this was posted about a guy who built a 910 replica. Most of his measurements came from a model.

Oh My! A 917-10 Replica!

I hope it gives you a little more inspiration and another avenue on how to go about building your 917k/10.

[wayner]

I found this

Race-Car-Replicas - 586-329-1573 - 917 Specs

[wayner]

rcr 917 first start - YouTube